The cloud forecast is temporarily unavailable — scores assume a clear sky until it returns.
Lofoten Islands tonight: Yes — very likely. Get outside.
Conditions are on your side
Tonight, hour by hour (local time)
- 17:00Kp 6
- 20:00Kp 6
- 23:00Kp 6
- 02:00Kp 6
- Dark skyDark sky: 100%
How dark the sky gets at the best moment tonight — the sun must sit well below the horizon. Midnight sun drags this to zero, polar night keeps it at 100%. - Solar activitySolar activity: 100%
Forecast geomagnetic activity (Kp) measured against what this location needs for overhead aurora. Full bar means the oval should reach you. - Clear skyClear sky: 100%
How much sky the clouds leave open. Low cloud blocks the view completely; thin, high cirrus only softens it. - MoonlightMoonlight: 100%
A bright moon above the horizon washes out faint detail. It dims a display, but never hides a strong one.
Forecast assembled 16:18 UTC. Refreshes every 30 minutes.
The next seven nights
- Tonight10.0
- Sun 11 Oct10.0
- Mon 12 Oct10.0
- Tue 13 Oct10.0rough estimate
- Wed 14 Oct10.0rough estimate
- Thu 15 Oct6.7rough estimate
- Fri 16 Oct6.7rough estimate
The first three nights use NOAA's detailed Kp forecast. Beyond that, scores lean on the rougher 27-day outlook — treat them as a tendency, not a promise. Planning further ahead? See the best time of year for Lofoten Islands.
Aurora over fishing villages and granite peaks
The Lofoten archipelago (centered on Svolvær) offers the most photogenic aurora foregrounds in Europe — red rorbu cabins, fjords and jagged peaks. The Gulf Stream keeps winters mild but also brings Atlantic cloud, so timing matters.
Where to watch from
Hauklandstranda beach
White-sand Arctic beach with zero light pollution, a photographer pilgrimage site.
50 min drive from Svolvær
Henningsvær
Iconic fishing village on its own islets; walk past the stadium for dark sky.
25 min drive from Svolvær
Gimsøya
Flat open island with 360° horizons, favoured for aurora panoramas.
30 min drive from Svolvær
Check the sky yourself
Live cameras near Lofoten Islands:
Common questions
Is Lofoten cloudier than Tromsø?
Both are coastal and cloud-prone, but Lofoten’s geography lets you drive between microclimates quickly — a 30-minute reposition often finds a gap.
Why visit Lofoten for aurora specifically?
Foregrounds. Nowhere else combines beaches, alpine peaks and fishing villages under the oval — if photography is the goal, Lofoten is the pick.